Why did happen to me

Hello everyone, I just got PM 3 weeks ago. I'm still very sad...about this....I'm 43y old, healthy ,I dont smoke or drink and no drug, my family didnot have any thing about the " heart" problem....but I don't know why it happen to me . The doc didnot know why....my life is going to change sine that ( I cried almost every night)....Would someone tell me ....how long the PM use to work?.....do I have to sergury after afew years......am i going back to normal life?...

13 Comments

A New Yorker in TEXAS?????

by donr - 2013-11-28 01:11:16

Now THAT's a good one. Where in TX? WHY in TX? You told us nothing about yourself other than you are miserable.

What did you get it for? Are you on any meds? How long were you "Sick" before you had it planted? Or - was it an emergency?

Hey - we cannot read minds - but we can help.

Let's start!

1) Happy Thanksgiving. tonight is NOT a night to be wallowing in a pot full of misery. Start by being thankful that you are alive - that you have been given a second chance. Go down this home page & find the thread about getting a second chance. read it. See why we are all here. Be thankful that - no matter WHY you have a PM - that my first college roommate (Who flunked out in math) became an engineer & worked on developing the little Titanium buddy you now host that keeps your heart functioning smoothly so you can live a normal life.

2) I hate to break it to you - but it happened to you just because it happened. NO OTHER REASON!!!!! Other than being a 77 yr old man, I lived the same life you did. AND - here I am, hosting a PM & writing to a distraught woman the night before Thanksgiving. Ever have a TV set, radio, anything at all electrical just up & croak, roll over on its back w/ its legs in the air & show little X's where its eyes used to be???? If so, short of being struck by lightning, was anyone ever able to tell you WHY it croaked? Well, iot's the same way w/ your electrical problems w/ your heart. Very rarely can anyone determine why it happened. There's an old Christian benediction - "God, help me to accept the things I cannot change; to change the things I can change ; & the wisdom to know one from the other." Well - I'll save you the trouble - the reason for your heart's electrical problems is one of those things you cannot change, or even know ablot.

3) Now, as to the things you can change - You CAN develop a new life. the PM will help you do that. Hey, all sorts of things happen to us every day that change what is NORMAL. Supposing you broke a leg. Don't you think that might make a new NORMAL for you. Or caught a really bad case of the Flu. That could also make your life take a new direction .

You've only hosted your new little buddy for three weeks - It takes a lot longer than that for you to figure out where you are going & how you are going to get there. Fer cryin' out loud - you have not even finished completely healing from the cut you got to plant your little buddy! Let's just suppose that you tripped, fell & landed on something sharp that cut you open across the upper chest. How long would you ecpect to heal completely. Think it would bee all over in three measly weeks - NO WAY! You have the extra requirement to adapt to the new little buddy you host. You have certain restrictions on moving that arm for a few more weeks. BE Patient. Then you can go on changing your life. There is a whole new world waiting for you. You have no idea how much we do - not in spite of our PM being there, but BECAUSE it is there. We run, walk, swim, hike, go hunting, run marathons, lift weights, ski, ride horses, skydive. About the only thing we don't do is operate a big ol' honkin' compressed air jack hammer busting up concrete on a road construction crew. Besides, you did not write like you have a big belly to hang out over the handle & smoke big , smelly cigars while doing it.

4) I hate to tell you, but you have asked questions we cannort answer. How much does your PM work pacing you? only time will tell. Mine paces me 99% of the time. we have great bunches of people whose PM's pace them 100% of the time - without the PM, they would die. But, hey, that's the NEW REALITY for them. Wait'll Tracey E comes a'callin' She's one of them & she runs circles around most of the world w/ normal hearts, unhelped by a PM. Janet in Alaska is another 100% paced lady. You just have yet to see the wonderful world that awaits you BECAUSE YOU NOW HAVE YOUR PM! Think how miserable you would/could have been w/o the PM. This is a transition period for you while you become accustomed to the PM.

All I can tell you is that at some point, you will need to have your PM replaced because the battery will croak. How long from now? No one knows. depends on how much your PM works for you. And work for you it does. That little box monitors EVERY beat of your heart to ensure that it occurs at the correct time It NEVER sleeps. It monitors over 3 MILLION heart beats every month. It will NOT let you down.

5) Crying every night - not unusual at all. We can help you understand what is happening to you to make that happen. But NOT tonight. go to bed, relax & sleep tight. Tomorrow will be another glorious day just waiting to greet you.

Don

why did happen to me

by KateCRT - 2013-11-28 02:11:31

Right now you are probably still sore and are just getting over the trauma of the insertion. I certainly am. Let's face it, these procedures are not fun but they are treated as routine. I had my first CRT-D placed 4 days ago and am still trying to get my head around all the changes. As far as why did it happen, no one knows but the wonderful thing is that in this age of technology we are all still alive. All the literature tells us that it is natural to feel anxious and depressed (the glass is half empty) but the plus side is that we are promised protection from blackouts and a better quality of life (filling at least half the glass) But first you must heal physically and mentally and focus on how much better you will feel in a few weeks.Talk to your family doctor or your cardiologist or your cardiac rehab nurse and keep talking to this group.

I agree with Don above

by janetinak - 2013-11-28 04:11:01

give it some time to sink in & try & realize that it will be "normal" for you in the future. I am paced 100% & I suffered with permanent Atrial Fib ( SOB, severe fatigue, etc) for almost 2 yrs before I got my PM. Sounds like yours may have happened fast so you did not get a chance to get used to the idea. Many a night I went to bed so SOB that I didn't know if I'd wake up in the AM & frankly didn't care. Didn't want to go to the ER again (did it twice) just to hear that the medical community would have to try & correct it. Tried every medication that came out for almost 2 yrs & 5 cardioversions & my cardio kept saying just let me know if/when I wanted the PM. I was scared as I got this when I was 59 & my Dad died at 59 from heart disease (at Christmas no less). Well, any how, I did it & never have looked back. I sure hope you feel better soon. I am sure others will weigh in and offer support. Please keep in touch with us.

Janet

PS to above

by janetinak - 2013-11-28 04:11:50

"they" do not know why I have this. As far as I know no one else including my Dad (had coronary heart disease & I do not have that) had Afib.

Janet

Hey wait -

by rfassett - 2013-11-28 08:11:41

I know why I got mine. I had a congenital heart defective. Huh? Oh yeah, it was my Mother's fault. Lol! ( for the record I loved my Mother more than life itself and she would have appreciated the stab at humor.)

Breathe normal. We are here to help! You will get through this.

Have a great and blessed day!

don't we all

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-28 08:11:44

Electrical problems are unrelated to how we take care of ourselves. Not being active and eating right leads to plumbing problems. Electrical issues are often just a fluke and we are otherwise healthy. The good news is the pm is a fix so we can heal and move on. This is not the end of the world. At first it is a big blow, but as we feel better it gets easier and easier to forget about it and get on with our lives.

How long they last depends on what kind you have and how you use it, but the average is 7-10 years. Replacements are super easy. I'm on my 4th now, went to Key West a few days after #2, left on a hiking trip at high altitude less than a week after #3. I am a few years older than you (47), healthy and active. There is nothing I want to do that I cannot. If we can answer questions for you or you just want to vent, don't be shy. We've all been there.

Thankful

by BlessedBionicHeart - 2013-11-28 08:11:54

Very thankful at this moment...brand new member.

Just got a PM 4 weeks ago myself, have been dealing with so many of the above listed issues, but I DO KNOW that THIS was GOD'S plan for me...not mine. Even though I know this, does not make the acceptance or discomforts and fears any less real. That is what made me do a search this evening, a strange feeling in muscles/chest where PM was placed under the muscle...it scared me and I was home alone at the time..so went searching for "what to expect/feel after PM implantation under the muscle"...this site is where it lead me (another of God's plans...support/friends/others like me).

I too have had so many of the same questions, my very first question to the cardiologist when they told me of my electrical problem and need for a PM implantation was, "So when can I start working out again?", as I was bawling like a baby and shaking with fear. LOL I have always been the active one in my family, as my oldest Son put it to the doctor....and patience has always been a tough one for me also.

Just want to say a BIG THANKS to everyone on here posting and answering everyone's questions has been so very helpful to me as well.

BlessedBionicHeart

Good AM to you...

by donr - 2013-11-28 09:11:33

...New Yorker in Texas.

Betcha that the Sun came up, just like every other day. Betcha that YOU were there to greet it.

Lessee, now. I predicted that you would be visited by Tracey E & Janet in Alaska - They showed up while you were sleeping. Before this is over, you will be visited by Grateful Heart, Angry Sparrow (who isn't really angry at all) & Many Blessings. You will NOT be visited by any ghosts - even Christmas Past, Present or Future. You are not like Ebeneezer Scrooge, who had a hard heart.

All will be bearing messages of hope and a positive future. Trust me on that.

Don

hi there

by mom0f6 - 2013-11-28 10:11:26

It sounds like I wrote your post. Except I am 46. My pacemaker was put in 4 weeks ago and before July when I ended up in the ER due to a mini stroke and again in Sept with heartbeat issues, I felt healthy as a horse. I lift weights, I run, I chase my children and my chickens. I still have A LOT of questions and the good folks here help me every time. I am the first in my family, anywhere, to have any sort of heart issues also.
I am thankful for my Pacemaker because now I don't feel like the floor is going to rise up to meet me all the time and I can stay awake for a full day. The fatigue/exhaustion is what annoyed me the most. Good luck to you. Enjoy today

It gets better!

by Theknotguy - 2013-11-28 10:11:45

Family history of heart problems so wasn't really surprised when I woke up in the hospital after being in a coma for six days with a PM.

Do I like having to depend upon a machine to keep me alive. No! But it's a lot better than being dead. Every minute is a bonus minute, every day is a bonus day. BUT, it's normal to be angry about the situation. So go ahead and be angry about having a PM. Then start thinking about what you can do with the rest of your life.

Do I like the meds, do I like the aches and pains? No! But I'm getting on with my life. I'm even starting to make jokes about the situation.

Yeah, I had to give up mountain climbing, scuba diving, sky diving, and contact sports, but I wasn't doing that anyway. So I guess I'm not going to miss any of them. But there are a lot of things I can do. I just have to wait 90 days for my body to grow around the PM and the leads. Then I can start doing stuff again. Life goes on.

Suggestions: Stay on this forum. People here will give you a lot of help and some tough love. Use the internet and find support groups in your area. (There's a Mended Hearts chapter in my area. I also joined the SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) group since I qualify now.) See if the hospital that inserted your PM has a support group. Will your health insurance pay for psychological visits? All of these will help.

See if you can find a therapy dog group. My son's dogs aren't therapy dogs, but having them around has really helped. Had one fall asleep on my right leg and the other fall asleep on my left leg. I was rubbing one's ear while scratching the other. Both of them were groaning with pleasure. Came home with a smile and slept good that night. A cold nose and a warm heart really helped me.

Hang in there. It gets better.

Theknotguy

Hang In There!

by Many Blessings - 2013-11-28 11:11:02

Hi NewYorker, and welcome!

You're still early in the game, and your body, heart, and mind are still trying to figure out what the heck is going on. This is the hard part. Soon, it will pass and you will be looking at the positive side of life once again! Your feelings of fear, anxiety, regret, and anything else you're feeling is totally normal! I promise you!

Right now, you have every right to cry away, cuss, yell, get mad, and everything you feel like doing. Soon, this will pass, and you'll be able to calm down and accept the way things are (you may not like it, but you will accept it). Again, this will take time.

Good and bad, sometimes "$%#&" just happens. This is just one more of those things. It's best not to ask why. It always works out in the end, and it's always the best thing (although we may not think so). God (or whoever/whatever you believe) doesn't make mistakes. It was meant to be. It probably saved, or will save your life (or you will at least learn yet another lesson in life.) Turn your thoughts to that belief, and it will help you get through this.

I promise you, things will get better. This site is awesome, and everyone here helps each other out. Keep your questions coming. There are always a lot of people out here who have gone through exactly what you're feeling right now. You are not alone. Not in the least.

My advice is to keep reading comments and any other questions/answers that are posted on this site. You will smile each time you see someone else asking a question you are wanting to know. Before you know it, you will be past what others are asking, and you will be able to say "I remember when I felt like that". That is the day you will almost cry with relief, at how far you have come. It will happen. Just give it time.

If you have feelings that are new to you (dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, not being able to climb stairs, or anything else weird, new, or uncomfortable) don't panic. Let your cardio doc and PM tech know as soon as you can, as an incorrect setting can cause some really scary and uncomfortable symptoms. Once the settings are changed/corrected (which can take a couple of times), you will be feeling great again! You will also have lots of questions regarding interferences and many other things. Everyone out here will help you!

God bless!

You're still healthy

by Grateful Heart - 2013-11-28 11:11:54

Your heart just needed some help because your electrical system stopped working correctly.

I never smoked or did drugs either. Sometimes I'll have a glass of wine with dinner. My mother did have heart problems but it wasn't electrical. So it sounds like we have similar lifestyles.

The Doctors do not know what caused my problem either, they think maybe a virus attacked my heart. Sometimes they just don't know, so it sounds like your Doctor is being honest.......that's a BIG plus.

It is a shocker when we learn we need a pacemaker or ICD. It is scary to realize our heart has failed us, afterall, we only have one heart!

But it does get better as time goes on and you recover from the shock of it all. You're only 3 weeks out. Give yourself the time you need to take all this in.

This is our "new normal" and when you learn to accept it and consider your PM a part of you now, the true healing will begin.

You should ask your Doctor about Cardiac Rehab. It is like physical therapy, except for the heart. You exercise slowly on bikes, treadmills and other machines at your own pace and Nurses will monitor your heart as you go. It is VERY reassuring to know they are there in case anything goes wrong. You will meet other people with similar conditions too.

We really are very lucky to live in this day and age where modern medicine has perfected these devices for us.

It takes time but acceptance is the key. If you have any questions, just ask....everyone here is very willing to help....we've all been new at this.

Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the day.....we really do have a lot to be thankful for.

Grateful Heart

feelings

by judyblue - 2013-11-29 01:11:24

dear newyorker;
everyone here has their own take on things, but most agree we are not sure why this has happened to us. I for one do not believe God wanted me to go through this crap, but will help me through it. I am 9 weeks post op yesterday and finally I found a doctor to help me with my severe depression and anxiety. My gynecologist put me on wellbutrin. time will tell if it helps, but my quality of life was ripped out from under me and I am still quite miserable. I am in pain all the time and I am plain sick and tired of it. I do hold hope that my body will eventually heal. and I hold the hope for you too!
judy n.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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